Electronic Arts, the world’s largest videogame maker, is teaming with Cherry Lane Music Publishing to form a new music publishing company, Next Level Music.
The business will aim to sign new and established artists; it will also acquire publishing catalogs and produce original music. Under the exclusive co-publishing partnership, Next Level will license EA’s existing music assets to commercials, films, film trailers, ringtones and other commercial media.
The company builds on the precedent set by EA’s TRAX division, which licenses music for its popular videogame franchises such as “Madden 2005,” “FIFA” and “Need for Speed Underground.”
Highlighting EA’s catalog are pieces from Mark Mothersbaugh, Paul Oakenfold, Chris Lennertz, Sean Callery, Mya and others. EA posted revenues of $2.96 billion for fiscal 2004.
New York-based independent publisher Cherry Lane holds an estimated 100,000 copyrights.
